President Chen's Journey of Democratic Diplomacy and Friendship

Lung-chu Chen

President Chen Shui-bian left on August 13 for a thirteen-day "Journey of democratic diplomacy and friendship." His journey includes the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Costa Rica in Central America, and The Gambia, Burkina Faso, Chad in Africa. A contingent of over 200, including government officials, legislators, business and labor leaders, reporters, have accompanied the President. According to President Chen, the journey means that Taiwan is "standing up and reaching out" and that "we want to see the whole world and let the world see us."

Although some people have criticized the president for leaving the country at a time when many domestic issues require attention, Taiwan, as a sovereign independent State, must reach out, and the president is its best representative. At a time when the international community are still fresh in memory about March 18 and May 20, President Chen's timely journey abroad will help cement ties with friendly nations, disseminate the message of Taiwan's democratic achievements in a peaceful transfer of power from one ruling party to another, and share with all humankind Taiwan's democratic experience.

Although the Chen government has repeatedly extended good will to China, China has not responded in kind and persisted in trying to contain and isolate Taiwan internationally. For example, China plans to hold a "Sino-African Cooperation Forum—Ministerial Conference 2000" in mid-October in Beijing. It has invited all eight African countries that have had diplomatic relations with Taiwan to attend as observers, as part of its campaign to put Taiwan in total isolation diplomatically. The more coercive China tries, the more Taiwan should reach out.

President Chen's diplomatic journey is an uphill fight under China's ever intensifying pressures. But, in order to survive and develop, Taiwan has no choice but reach out to the world community. Taiwan must stand up courageously, reach out with its democratic diplomacy, and make friends.

We wish President Chen's journey of democratic diplomacy and friendship a great success.